Rippowam Cisqua School Bulletin, Spring 2020 by Good Design

Bulletin RIPPOWAM CISQUA SCHOOL

Spring 2020

2 Letter from Head of School Colm MacMahon

Campus News 4 Together 2020 Update 6 A Real-Life Hero: Author Laura Schroff | By Tim Smee 7 Social Justice Conference | By Marie Peña 7 GeoBee 2020 8 In the Spirit of Giving 10 Author Janet Wong Visits | By Susan Steinman 10 Morning Jazz | By Bill Fornara 11 2019 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 11 5/6 Girls Soccer Undefeated

The Art of Writing 13 First Grade Vocabulary Building 13 Second Grade Poetry and Similes | By Annie Sargisson

Features 22 Sixth Grade Adventure in Wonderland 26 2019 Friday Night Lights Family Carnival 28 Ripp Rally Day 32 RCS in Pictures 36 Fall Sports Wrap-up 37 Flag Football Jamboree 38 Winter Sports Wrap-up 39 Faculty Spotlight: Tim Smee 40 Faculty Spotlight: Paul Ragonesi 41 Staff Spotlight: Lori Adelsberg 42 T he Nantucket Project + RCS: A Partnership Featuring The Function of the Friction 43 Staff Retirement: Wendy Weaver 44 Master Teaching Fund Grant Recipients 46 Message from the PA Chair

Alumni News 48 Alumni Spotlight: Entrepreneur Taylor Simmons ’04 49 Alumni Spotlight: Author Madeleine Henry ’07 50 Alumni Connections 52 Alumni Class Notes 57 In Memoriam

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RIPPOWAM CISQUA SCHOOL

Spring 2020

Rippowam Cisqua School Bulletin is published by the Advancement Office Karin Smith, Director of Communications & Bulletin Editor Caroline Vincent Mockridge ’81, Director of Special Projects Daphne Viders, Director of Development

Credits Design: Good Design, Deep River, Connecticut Photography: M inush Krasniqi, Rhonda Spevak, Peter Blossom, Allef Vinicius on Unsplash Cover photo: Julie Pollock Printing: Printech, Stamford, Connecticut

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Board of Trustees Peter B. Freund ’91, Chair Whitney Brown, Vice Chair Charles E. Buckley, Treasurer Ben Harris, Secretary Sonja Bartlett Jonathan Childs Anne Citrin Kelly Coles Nancy Dwyer Eaves ’92 Abby Gerry Harry Grand ’93, RCSAA Chair Richard C. Mugler III D. Bryce O’Brien Christopher H. Pachios Will Reeve ’07 Charlene Sy Ryan Sara Slocum Daniel van Starrenburg Page Vincent ’79 Ex Officio Colm MacMahon, Head of School Deborah A. Hurrell, Assistant Head, Finance & Operations Lisa Kaufmann, Parents Association Chair

Colm MacMahon Head of School Community. Over the past five years, in all the public remarks I’ve given, I’m not sure there’s a word I’ve focused on more than community. We’re a school that has, for over one-hundred years, prided itself on the ways in which we’ve developed such close relationships between all who walk through our school’s doors. The laughter in the hallways between teachers and students; the packs of friends gleefully running out to recess on both campuses; and the moments of courageousness on the stage, on the fields, and in our classrooms have defined who we are in the happiest of times. But it’s in times of challenge that we are at our best. We support those who fall down, cheer loudly for the underdog, and unite as one when it seems we should be at our most fractured. As I write this, like most of you, I am physically separated from Rippowam Cisqua School. And although I have been on campus periodically over the

past few weeks, the reality of social distancing has radically changed my daily existence – everyone’s daily existence – in ways I hadn’t imagined before. I for one certainly did not have global pandemic on my bingo card for potential issues we would face this year. But we’re managing. I dare say, in many ways we’re doing quite well. As my children happily log in to virtual homeroom meetings, and my colleagues tackle the unenviable task of recreating an RCS education in a virtual environment, I recognize that our focus on community isn’t a decision we’ve made; it’s the cornerstone of our school. RCS has never been about geography; it is, has been, and always will be about the individuals who comprise our community, from our youngest JPK students, to our most veteran faculty members, to our alumni, parents of alumni, and grandparents.

We debated whether to hold off on printing this issue of the Bulletin as parents have so much to manage. We wondered if we were being insensitive or ignorant to the challenges our families are facing right now. In the end, we agreed that for a century, RCS has navigated multiple storms, fires, World Wars, the Depression, recessions, and other challenges, and in each case we have returned stronger than ever. It is with that faith in our community – that celebration of the heart and soul of who we are – that we decided that the spirit in the pages that follow would likely help more than anything else. And when so many of you sent us dozens of smiles and notes of thanks in a #rippgratitude video, we were inspired by your fortitude, compassion, and resilience. We changed the cover (and these two pages) to reflect this snapshot in time – our community standing together, again.

So sit back and dive deep into this issue; enjoy the focus on our writing program, travel with our students to Wonderland, learn a bit more about Mr. Smee, Mr. Ragonesi, and Ms. Adelsberg, and catch up on the latest from your alumni classmates. Your community awaits… Warmly,

Colm MacMahon Head of School

NEWS

Together When we begin school in September 2020, students from JPK through ninth grade will all be together on our beautiful and historic 35-acre campus in Bedford. And we’re ecstatic about that! For 102 years we’ve prided ourselves on our ability to connect directly

2020 with each student, and by bringing our entire community of students, faculty, and staff together on one campus, we are creating efficiency in

space and program that will make the RCS experience even more impactful. But before the fall, we have several construction projects to complete. Here are some of the highlights. As work progresses over the summer, we’ll send electronic messages to keep RCS friends and families updated!

Early Childhood House Stamford, Connecticut-based company A.P. Construction began transforming the Music House into the Early Childhood House in late April without much fanfare – we were still in distance learning mode and off campus – but we’re happy to report that the project is underway, and we fully expect classrooms will be ready for next fall’s

opening of school. We’re working with Mount Kisco design firm KG+D Architects again, a key partner in the multimillion dollar Upper School project that was completed in 2017. The three new JPK and SPK classrooms in the Early Childhood House will be open and airy spaces with tremendous

natural light that will perfectly complement our vibrant Early Childhood program. We’ll have a receptionist stationed in the building to welcome students in the same way that we have currently, and in keeping with the rural Bedford country feeling, there’s a sliding barn door between classrooms, to facilitate shared experiences.

Playground We shifted from a Germany-based playground equipment manufacturer to domestic company KOMPAN when COVID-19 hit to keep us on track to have a new custom play area installed and open for children by September 8. We’ll have a variety of play equipment from classic swings and slides, to urban climbing and multi-level play structures – all designed to inspire happy and healthy play that is inclusive and engaging for all ages. Additional projects that we’ll be completing over the summer include adding kitchen prep space (we’re

NEWS removing a bathroom and relocating Chef Jonathan’s office) and renovating nine ground-floor classrooms (where world language classes and the computer lab are now). 439 Cantitoe Street was built to expand. When we shift to one campus next fall, we’ll be providing the kinds of spaces that nurture future generations of independent thinkers, confident communicators, and engaged leaders. It’s a bright future – and it’s ours, together.

Meet Abby Gerry

Campaign for Together 2020 Chair

A graduate of Duke University with a Masters in Childhood Education from New York University, Abby is the mother of two children at RCS – Stephanie ’27 in second grade, and Charlie ’30 in SPK. After teaching for five years in New York City at the Little Red Schoolhouse, Abby and her husband, Lloyd, moved to Pound Ridge to raise their family. They chose RCS because of the strong sense of community that they felt right when they arrived. “It is a magical place focused on the ages of my kids, and it became obvious there is no better place to build a foundation for a love of learning.” Her time teaching in independent schools coupled with her passion for philanthropy has allowed her to take on many roles at RCS. As a volunteer for the Foundations Auction in 2016,

in both the Auction Office and on the Special Projects Team, she went on to co-chair all auction donations for the Imagine Benefit in 2019. Once joining the Board of Trustees in 2017, Abby has devoted time to chairing the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, and, most recently, chairing the Campaign for Together 2020. With an opportunity to gather enthusiastic volunteers while expanding the infrastructure of the Cantitoe Street campus, she shares that “this is a momentous time.” She adds, “We have the power to enrich the academic environment, to personalize each child’s experience, and to shape the future for the next generation of students. I am excited to have new families, past families, alumni, and grandparents joining us as we reach our goals.”

Abby also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bedford Historical Society, and she serves on the Board of Visitors of Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment as well as on the National Council of the World Wildlife Fund.

NEWS

A Real-Life Hero

By Tim Smee, Upper School Language Arts Teacher, Grade 6 Dean, Head Dean

“Heroes don’t look like they used to, they look like you do.” Lyrics from “Nothing More” by Eric Donnelly and Tim Warren of The Alternate Routes Real-life hero and New York Times bestselling author Laura Schroff visited with our fifth and sixth graders in the Upper School Library and Media Center on October 22 and the synergy was dynamic. Ms. Schroff captivated our students with the story of how she befriended an 11-year-old, virtually homeless boy on the streets of Manhattan over thirty years ago, how many lives were changed for the better by the chance encounter, and how the relationship continues today.

In the Q&A that followed, the connections our students made about the impact of small acts of kindness in their own lives so validated the work we have been doing in character education. Teaching character is as important as any other subject at RCS. Laura talked to our students about how an invisible thread connects us. The theme was that personal relationships are what counts and how we treat each other is what’s important. Our students embraced the message and treated Ms. Schroff like a rock star, lining up to get their copies of An Invisible Thread autographed after the presentation. Message received and paid forward!

Social Justice Conference

NEWS

By Marie Peña, Upper School English Teacher, Writing Workshop Support, Language Arts Facilitator, Grade 8 Dean

The Masters School and Rye Country Day School hosted an all-day Summit on Social Justice on November 2, and students Emerson Casper ’21, Remy Lipman ’21, and Eve Doran ’20, along with teachers Sara Malekzadeh and Marie Peña, were there. The summit set up student and adult workshops that brought the local independent school communities together for some meaningful

and empowering dialogue about subjects that ranged from equity and inclusion to identity and activism. Keynote speaker Natalie Gillard presented FACTUALITY the Game, a comprehensive board game designed to rapidly disseminate facts pertaining to various tiers of structural inequality within the United States. This hands-on training tool proved to be meaningful and caused quite an impact on students and adults alike.

When asked about the experience, ninth grader Eve Doran said, “It was a really worthwhile experience. It was nice to express your views, without judgement. The environment was inclusive and everyone should experience it.” Eighth grader Remy Lipman added, “It was a really amazing experience and I learned so much about how other people feel. It was really interesting to experience other people’s perspectives.”

GeoBee 2020 Since 1989, thousands of schools across America have been participating in the National Geographic GeoBee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The annual academic contest is designed to inspire and reward students’ curiosity about the world. This year, eighth grader Achylles Pons-Beltsyk ’21 earned the title of RCS Geography Bee Champion with his impressive knowledge of geography, civilizations, cultures, and physical features. Achylles was joined by finalists Edmund Rose ’25, Paige Eaves ’23, Cliff Lanier ’23, Joseph Muscari ’23, and Juliet Kaufmann ’20 for the final

competition on January 22. The Playhouse was packed! Not only were all the Upper School students and faculty in attendance, but when fourth grader Edmund qualified for the finals, the third and fourth grade community decided to travel to the Upper School to cheer him on as well. Congratulations to Achylles and to all the RCS students who accepted the GeoBee challenge. The questions were difficult! Here is the final question from last year’s national championship: Q: One-third of Norway’s northernmost county is in what plateau? A: Finnmark Plateau

Ninth grade teacher and GeoBee coordinator Jordan Schnell congratulates Achylles Pons-Beltsyk.

NEWS

Stephen Hannock installation in the Library and Media Center

In the Spirit of Giving This past fall, former Trustee and former Annual Fund Chair Alexandria StewartAltman, along with her husband Michael, generously loaned seven Stephen Hannock paintings to Rippowam Cisqua School, inspiring our students through the visual arts on a daily basis.

Stephen Hannock (b. 1951) is an American painter known for his atmospheric landscapes – compositions of flooded rivers, nocturnes, and large vistas – and for creating a signature technique that involves building up layers of paint on the surface of the panel or canvas, sandpaper-polishing them down, applying new layers of paint, and polishing them again. As a result, his landscapes take on a brilliantly

unique luminosity, paying homage to the subjects and artists of the Hudson River School of American landscape painting. The installation of these works at Rippowam Cisqua School fits perfectly in the light-filled space of the Upper School Library and Media Center, which will serve as their temporary home. Outside of Ripp, Hannock’s works can also be seen hanging in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Princeton University Art Museum, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Among the more notable private commissions the artist has received are that of restaurateur Danny Mayer for over a

dozen pieces for his restaurants, as well as that of musician Sting for the creation of a large-scale painting for his home in Tyne, England. The Altmans generously shared these works indefinitely and said, “The dedicated and talented teachers, along with the entire staff, always projected a positive image to our children, built a secure environment for learning, and always pursued excellence in all of their endeavors. As educators, they championed their students toward success – and our families and children are the grateful beneficiaries.” The loan of these beautiful paintings, along with the Altman family’s earlier gift of an original William J. Stone

NEWS

Declaration of Independence engraving of the Declaration of Independence, is meant to inspire and enhance the learning experience of our students, faculty, and community, alike. Mr. Altman added, “Our time at Rippowam Cisqua School was truly a special one as we watched our children, Jack, Eliza, and Nicholas, grow into young adults – and while they were challenged, they were also loved and felt empowered to expand their boundaries and explore their own interests. Its dedicated faculty has been the driving force behind our longstanding and ongoing commitment to the school and it has been our sincere pleasure to give of ourselves and our resources to a most worthy cause: RCS.”

Did you know that a rare engraved copy of the Declaration of Independence hangs proudly in our Library and Media Center as well? The Altman family generously gifted this important piece of American history to Rippowam Cisqua School in 2012, hoping to inspire and encourage engagement with the civic values set forth by our nation’s founders and to commit our students to the shared obligations and responsibilities we keep today.

fragile condition, Adams called upon master engraver William J. Stone to produce a limited number of copies of the engrossed Declaration manuscript for preservation in perpetuity. First signed on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is the culmination of our founding fathers’ vision for our fledgling nation and their quest to bestow upon its citizens the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The document that hangs on our walls was created from the original copper plate used for the engravings commissioned by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams in 1823. Concerned about the Declaration’s

Almost two centuries later, the William J. Stone engravings remain the best representation of the engrossed Declaration manuscript as it looked in 1776 and it is certainly the image most familiar to the world.

NEWS

Author Janet Wong Visits By Susan Steinman, Lower School Librarian

Janet Wong, acclaimed children’s author and poet, visited all classes in the Lower School Sky Room on January 17 to rave reviews. Ms. Wong’s incredibly engaging style allowed for some wonderful interactions with our students. Using her poetry suitcase, Ms. Wong called on volunteers to choose from a variety of stuffed animals, which then served as prompts for some fun and spontaneous guided poetry creation. In the third and fourth grade session, students focused on a person in their

lives. In poetic form, they wrote heart-warming words about the positive qualities of that person. Each session ended with sweet high-fives. Later, students and families had an opportunity for individual meet and greet experiences during Ms. Wong’s book sale in the lobby before dismissal. Recently, we received her response to our huge thank you card, signed by all students. This comment from Ms. Wong sums up our outstanding experience:

“Scout Cooper: Your message ‘I can’t stop writing poems now that I enjoy them’ gave me so much joy. That is exactly what I hope everyone will feel after they have heard me speak.”

Morning Jazz By Bill Fornara, Upper School Music, Chorus, and Guitar Teacher

Musicians in the “Thursday Jazz Band” showcased their talent and hard work to their families and friends on February 21 during the second installment of our new Friday morning concert series. Students gave a nod to Mardi Gras by opening the program with “Alligator Alley,” rising from their seats in the audience and filing to the stage in a New Orleans marching jazz band fashion. This both surprised and delighted the audience. The band inspired the younger musicians in the audience, and students were very proud of their performance. 10

NEWS 2019 Scholastic Awards RCS Art Winners in the Northeast Region-at-Large

Empire Plate Building By Achylles PonsBeltsyk ’21

Achylles Pons-Beltsyk ’21, Gold Key, Drawing and Illustration Remy Lipman ’21, Silver Key, Drawing and Illustration Remy Lipman ’21, Honorable Mention, Drawing and Illustration

RCS Writing Winners in the Hudson-to-Housatonic Region A panel of professional novelists, editors, teachers, poets, librarians, journalists, and other literary professionals selected these works from more than 1,700 works submitted this year.

Cyclops By Remy Lipman ’21

263 Honorable Mentions awarded to promising works 164 Silver Keys awarded to distinguished works 126 Gold Keys awarded to the most accomplished works 5 American Voice Nominees selected as the strongest regional works Jordanne Alexander ’21, Silver Key, Science Fiction and Fantasy Divina Allyn ’21, Silver Key, Critical Essay Abby Block ’22, Honorable Mention, Short Story Lila O’Brien ’20, Honorable Mention, Critical Essay Paolo Paskin ’22, Honorable Mention, Poetry Andy Pauley ’21, Honorable Mention, Journalism Olivia Port ’22, Honorable Mention, Flash Fiction Rafe Reinstein ’21, Honorable Mention, Poetry Eva Rodgers ’21, Honorable Mention, Poetry Romy Spevak ’22, Honorable Mention, Short Story

Paper Fly Away By Remy Lipman ’21

5/6 Girls Soccer Undefeated A strong team effort by our fifth and sixth grade girls soccer team led to an undefeated season this fall. In January, the athletes were excited to be awarded a banner, which now hangs in Wade’s Gymnasium. Congratulations to the team and to its coaches, Colm MacMahon and Alexandra Baker!

The Art of Writing

One of the strongest academic outcomes that RCS teachers hear from alumni and families is how well students are prepared to meet the writing expectations at their secondary schools. This comes as little surprise to a faculty that believes strongly in challenging and supporting students to become proficient writers – a journey that begins with our youngest students and progresses in developmentally appropriate ways through their time at RCS. 12

Teaching students to write necessitates a multifaceted approach that ensures students gain transferable skills that can be incorporated into any class and assignment. The goal, therefore, is for faculty to provide an intentional and developmentally appropriate framework for teaching students about both the art of writing and the editing process, and ultimately, helping them to proudly publish their work for an audience.

Helping students to develop their own voice and style through experimentation and varied assignments is essential. From clear rubrics, to differentiated support and individual conferencing, to selfassessment techniques, RCS faculty aim to provide students with high quality feedback and support that will allow them to gain mastery of a skill that they will use in every facet of their lives.

The Art of Writing First Grade Vocabulary Building Each week, to build vocabulary, the first graders explore a word of the week. They define it, share ideas, and then add a page to their books. By the end of the year, they’ll have their own amazing books to publish.

Timid: I was timid when I first climbed the rock wall because it was really high. – Estella Makaj I was timid when I played football for the first time because I didn’t know who to pass to. – Tyler Sargisson

Efficient: I am efficient at getting ready for skiing! – Tate Harsch

Scrumptious: Chocolate cake is scrumptious! – Harry Cameron Chocolate ice cream is scrumptious with sprinkles on top. – Cloe Slocum

Courteous: I was courteous when I got bit by a hamster because I did not scream. – Fiona Brodeur I was courteous when I asked what was for dinner. – Gabby Jones

I am efficient when I am making slime because I want to play with it. – Cloe Slocum

Second Grade Poetry and Similes A new unit of study this year in second grade was Immigration. Each student focused on a particular country. They then studied similes and wrote poems, incorporating their study of the country and their understanding of similes. Can You Guess My Country? By Annie Sargisson My country has mountains as tall as skyscrapers. The summers are hot like the shining sun. The tree leaves are greener than grass. The Irish hare is as cute as a puppy. The Cliffs of Moher are larger than one hundred people. Saint Patrick’s Day is as fun as swimming. Soda bread is sweet like candy. The castles are older than me. People play rugby on a green field. The green landscape is so beautiful to see. Answer: Ireland

The Art of Writing Third Grade Fable The Peacock and the Wild Hedgehog By Phoebe Miller Narrator: One warm spring morning, Hedgehog was coming home from gathering raspberries. He was carrying a knitted basket full of juicy, red berries. At the same time, Peacock was walking back home from an all night dance party and didn’t notice Hedgehog. Hedgehog Hello, my name is Hedgehog. What is your name?

Hedgehog I hope you like my spikes?

Hedgehog Oh, I am sorry! Were you trying to get up the oak tree and into your home?

Peacock My name is Peacock. I live at the top of this beautiful, ancient oak tree.

Peacock NO! I don’t like them because I stepped on them and hurt myself! My foot feels like it was stabbed by thousands of pine tree needles.

Peacock Yes, I was!! Now, I must carry on.

Hedgehog Please watch where you are walking next time. I don’t appreciate you stepping on me. Peacock I am sorry. We need to be more aware of each other. Moral: Even if someone is mean to you that doesn’t mean you should be mean back.

Fourth Grade Passion Writing I Love Lacrosse! By Walker LaMotte

Lacrosse is my favorite sport and it has been my whole life. I have been playing lacrosse for more than half of my life. Most of the time I’ve been playing lacrosse, it’s been my favorite sport, and I have always loved the faceoff. The faceoff is the thing that starts the game to decide who gets the ball. Most of the time I have played lacrosse I played for only one team, but since third grade I’ve been playing for two lacrosse teams, Express and Fox Lane, the two

best teams ever. The team I played on since third grade (Express) has a really tough coach. On the team I played on since third grade (Express) I play almost every season. I love to play lacrosse! Every year my lacrosse team goes to West Point to play and watch a lacrosse game. When the lacrosse game starts, Army people jump out of helicopters with parachutes attached to them and land on the field where we watch the

lacrosse game. It’s awesome. When we watch the lacrosse game my whole lacrosse team goes to the game, so we share a whole bunch of snacks, like hot dogs, nachos, and popcorn. All the snacks are really good. The bad part about West Point is to get there it’s a long drive so we have to leave early and eat breakfast in the car. But I still love going to West Point.

Fifth Grade Argumentative Essay

The Art of Writing

Esperanza Changing By Harper Arnow Change can be hard, but sometimes it’s for the better. In Esperanza Rising, by Pam Muñoz Ryan, both Esperanza and Mama change after Papa dies. Mama understands that their life is now different, but it takes Esperanza longer to adjust. In the end, Esperanza changes for the better, and also finds happiness in their new life. Mama adjusts very well from being la patrona of a wealthy family to working all day and living in a peasant camp. For example, on page 5, the book describes her hair as, “In the usual braided wreath that crowned her head.” Here, Mama is still very wealthy. She is like the Queen of Rancho de las Rosas. She has servants who work for her all the time. On page 108 and 109 the author describes Mama’s simpler, newer hair style as, “Mama’s hair ran down her back in a single long braid, almost touching her waist.” When Mama changes her life she is also changing her looks. She understands that she does not have to look nice and fancy just to work.

While Mama is getting used to the camp, Esperanza is not. She assumes that everything will be the same in California. Before she leaves Mexico, on page 50, Esperanza thinks, “They could have a home in California. A beautiful home. Alfonzo and Hortensia and Miguel could work for them and they would be rid of the uncles.” Esperanza does not understand that Alfonso, Hortensia and Miguel don’t work for her anymore and that she needs to be more independent in her new life. On page 126 Muñoz Ryan writes, “Esperanza went over to one of the washtubs, put her hands out to her sides, and waited.” She thinks Hortenisa is still going to give her baths like she did in her old life, even though everything else has changed. Esperanza eventually learns how to find happiness no matter where she is. On page 2 and 248 she writes about the Earth’s heartbeat. In the beginning she hears it with Papa at El Rancho de las Rosas, her childhood home. The second time is with Miguel at the camp

and she feels the same happiness that she felt in Mexico. Esperanza and Mama grow not just with age, also with maturity, even though it’s at different paces. In the end they are both happy in their new life. In Esperanza Rising we learn that if you really want to change you can, and that money isn’t always the answer.

Sixth Grade Persuasive Essay Modeled on Martin Luther King Jr.’s Famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail”

Desegregation By Liam Katzin Why are we being treated differently? We are the same species and we live in the same country; we should be treated equally. Segregation is the practice of requiring separate housing, education, and other services for people of color. In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery and the Thirteenth Amendment was created. The Thirteenth Amendment gave people equal rights. Soon after, segregation started and black people were prohibited from using the same water fountains, bathrooms, schools, and restaurants as white people. Yesterday Martin Luther King Junior peacefully protested and was arrested.

Segregation is tearing this country apart; it has to end. Treating people differently because they do not look exactly like you is cruel, unfair, and causes violence, which is why it has to end. One example of segregation causing violence was on September 15, 1963, in Birmingham, Alabama. A bomb exploded in a church killing four innocent black girls and injuring many other people. Another prime example of violence is the Klu Klux Klan (KKK). They were a white supremacist group that burned houses, terrorized, and killed people. They wore white cone hats that concealed their

identity. The KKK believes that white Christian people are superior over any other race or religion. Both of those are examples of baseless hatred due to nothing more than the color of their skin. When people are treated unfairly you cannot expect them to keep quiet. We will not have peace until there are equal rights for everyone. Segregation has to stop!

The Art of Writing

Seventh Grade Creative Historical Fiction The New England Herald The Mysterious Disappearance of the Charter Oak By Murdoch Watson (AKA Piper Spevak)

Twenty five years ago, in the year 1662, King Charles II granted the Connecticut General Assembly a Royal Charter that gave us the rights to self-govern and elect our own officials without interference from the monarchy. Until now, this charter has acted as the state’s highest law. Two weeks ago, King James II attempted to incorporate Connecticut in the “Dominion of New England” which was to include New England colonies along with New York. The King appointed Sir Edmond Andros as the new governor of the region. Andros arrived in Hartford

to take control of the government and confiscate the Royal Charter, but Governor Robert Treat refused to surrender the treaty. Just yesterday, the King held a meeting between the two opposing sides. In the middle of the debate, the candles were mysteriously blown out and no one could see a thing. Though the candles had been re-lit, the crowd was still sitting in darkness. The charter had vanished as if into thin air. Rumors are spreading that Captain Joseph Wadsworth snatched

the charter with a swift hand and hid it inside the hollow oak tree on the Wyllys estate. The King has been doing everything in his power to find it, though it seems the Charter Oak has disappeared for good, forever buried in the depths of a large oak tree and never to be found.

The Art of Writing Eighth Grade Essay Being Strong Isn’t Feeding on the Weak By Alex Krusko Picking a fight with someone who can’t fight back isn’t a fight at all. If the strong try to prey on the weak, the line between the two people becomes bigger and bigger. In the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the laborers are isolated because their bosses make them feel weak in order to stay in power. The workers then become demoralized and lonely, as if they are more animal than human. When main characters George Milton and Lennie Small’s story ends, it ends in a way that no one would expect. Steinbeck’s central idea about strong vs weak and loneliness is effective in representing oppressive relations between authority and workhands and he accomplishes this through his use of tone, allegorical characterization and constant conflict. From the beginning of the book all the way to the end, Steinbeck uses tone to show the power struggle and how that makes some characters lonely. The tone of the book surrounds arguments where farmhands are referred to with

derogatory names so they know their place. The farmhands become distant, in a somewhat voluntary matter, as if it isn’t worth resisting. An example would be when Crooks, Lennie and Candy are having a conversation where they bond over the idea of the farm. This farm is a majestic dream that represents hope for Lennie. Sadly, Curley’s wife intrudes and when Crooks tells her to leave his room, she lashes out. She says, “Well, you keep your place then, N. I could have you strung up on a tree so fast it ain’t even funny.” (Steinbeck 81) The tone Curley’s wife uses stems from her inherited power, and she uses her strength to belittle Crooks. It more than works, as Crooks is seriously hurt by her words and shrinks back into a shell of his already shy self. Crooks is also forced to be lonely, as he isn’t allowed to live in the bunkhouse because of his race. Instead, he lives in a shack next to the harness room. When describing Crooks’ living scenery, Steinbeck says, “Crooks, the negro stablebuck had his bunk in the harness room: a little shed

that leaned off the wall of the barn.” (Steinbeck 66) He’s sectioned off from all the others because he is black and slightly crippled, but more importantly, he’s put next to the animals. He’s regarded by the farm owners as continued

The Art of Writing

continued practically an animal, which puts him into a lonely state filled with hatred and indignancy towards all others on the farm. This causes him to be mean to kind people as revenge. Apart from the tone of the story, the way authority figures allegorically characterize the workers with single stories make each one singled out by some difference. Steinbeck uses clothing, manner and attitude to clearly show who has power. When a character with authority wants to assert their dominance they do so by using manner and especially clothes. An example is when Curley goes to meet George and Lennie, he wears clothes that make it obvious he has power. Steinbeck depicts this picture: “On his head was a soiled brown Stetson hat, and he wore high heeled boots and spurs to prove he was not a laboring man.” (Steinbeck 20) It’s easy to infer that his manner matches his outfit and that goes to show how he wants others to see that he is a powerful man. The reason people like him that don’t work have power is because they are born into that position. Just as clothing shows power, the way that people are referred to by the people they aren’t like shows the power held by authority and the anger that follows with the workhands. On a nice, clear day with beautiful skies and a cool breeze, someone unspecified calls out to Crooks more as a lonely dog that needs to come out of hiding than a human. They say, “Stable Buck – ooh, Stable Buck! Where

the hell is that God damn N?” (Steinbeck 29) It’s easy to assume who said this as an authority figure, but the amount of disregard for basic human rights like being called your name is unfathomable. This just goes to show how the authority figures use tone of voice accompanied by demeaning words to knock down the laborers. Not only is this a singular example of a sign of a cruel authority, but the constant battering of all workers alike

to keep them in a submissive mindset is what makes the farm a survival of the fittest environment.

based on a single stare, Curley decides he is going to torment Lennie because he is big. But most surprising and disturbing to a sympathetic reader is how the laborers who need each other quarrel over little things like Candy’s dog. They force Candy into letting Carlson put his dog down instead of letting him have a proper goodbye. “At last Candy said softly and hopelessly, ‘Awright – take ’im.’ ” (Steinbeck 47) Carlson puts him down and as he takes the dog away, Candy shrivels up and becomes isolated and aloof, like a part of him has gone away with the dog. He feels defeated. And it isn’t his fault. The will of the strong has overwhelmed him. All these instances where the strong overrule or prey on the weak or cause the weak to feel lonely make the farm a melancholy place to work.

As seen time and time again in novels about work and the main characters’ intertwined story, there is always some barrier needing to be overcome. In this novella, the constant conflict that goes on between the people in power and the farmhands is on such a consistent basis that it’s usually overlooked. Even at first sight, people like Curley choose to despise someone and make them feel weak or alone. Curley does this when first meeting George and Lennie. “He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie. His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists.” (Steinbeck 25) Right from the beginning,

Throughout the whole book the authority figures on the farm do their best to demoralize and isolate the workers they deem weak. In doing so, the divide between the two people grows. Through symbolism, characterization and constant conflict, John Steinbeck expresses the divide between the authority and the farmhands, which makes the laborers sad and lonely. Relationships like this one usually happen because of rash decisions, and in times of need authority figures should step up and aid the weak rather than put them down and abuse their power.

In this novella, the constant conflict that goes on between the people in power and the farmhands is on such a consistent basis that it’s usually overlooked.

The Art of Writing Ninth Grade Research Paper Harappans and the Dawn of Modern Civilization By Clara Guettel Residents today in the modern city of Punjab, Pakistan may not even realize that beneath their feet lie remnants of one of the most impactful ancient civilizations the world has seen. The cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro in Pakistan were once inhabited by the Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappans, from around 2500 to 1700 BCE during the Copper Age.1 There are countless examples of the Harappans’ functioning and healthy civilization. Some of those include trade, religion, natural resources, and creativity. All four of these characteristics played a substantial role in the Harappan Community. The Indus Valley Civilization is studied because of the inhabitants’ effect on subsequent civilizations through their use of natural resources, innovative trading techniques, religious roles in society, and creative mindsets, all of which make them a prime civilization when considering examples of successful societies. The Harappan people settled on the banks of the Indus River for one main reason: its natural resources. It was a decision that impacted future civilizations greatly. They chose one of the most resourceful pieces of land in that area to help their civilization thrive, which enabled future civilizations to settle on lush plots of land. Around them was the Indus River.2 Just like the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Mesopotamia, the Indus River overflowed and deposited silt on

its banks.3 This fertile soil aided the Harappans in farming while also giving them a source of fresh water to drink. The Harappans mainly grew wheat, barley, peas, melons, and sesame.4 The base of their civilization also lay on the foothills of the Hindu Kush mountains.5 These provided them with shelter from storms and other episodes of bad weather. Surrounding the Indus Valley was an abundance of precious metals consisting of lots of gold, silver, turquoise, and other semi-precious stones.6 These metals also ignited vast trade within the Harappan culture and

between other civilizations nearing them. Although they had no idea, the Harappan people picked a spot to build a civilization that would be studied for thousands of years. Trade was one of the largest contributors to the Indus Valley Civilization’s success, and it played a large role in the people’s day-to-day life. According to researchers, the Harappan Civilization was one of the first urban cultures on the Indian subcontinent.7 Trading with six other civilizations including Mesopotamia and Southern continued

1 “Indus Valley Civilization.” Nov. 18th, 2019, https://www.ancient.eu/Indus_Valley_Civilization 2 ibid 3 “Indus Civilization” Britannica. Nov. 20th, 2019, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Indus-civilization 4 “Indus Valley Civilization” Ancient History Encyclopedia. Nov. 18th, 2019, https://www.ancient.eu/Indus_Valley_Civilization/ 5 “Indus Civilization” Britannica. Nov. 20th, 2019, https://www.britannica.com/place/Hindu-Kush 6 “Indus River Valley Civilizations” Khan Academy. Nov. 17th, 2019, https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/world-history-beginnings/ancientindia/a/the-indus-river-valley-civilizations 7 ibid

The Art of Writing

continued India, the Harappans’ economy was completely based on trade.8 The Harappan economy thrived due to the exchange of gold, silver, copper, tin, terra-cotta pots, beads, seashells and many other items, all of which were their goods.9 The Harappan people were also the first to cultivate, grow, and sell cotton to use for clothing.10 Some of the trading patterns used by the Harappans are still effective and useful now. For example, the Harappans are believed to be the first ancient civilization to use the invention of the wheel for transportation purposes, a technique that is still incredibly efficient today. The success of the Harappan society and economy due to their advanced trading techniques is one of the main reasons why their civilization is studied and researched today. All in all, the people of the Indus Valley Civilization have helped to pave the road for trading norms in modern society. Religion is also one of the main reasons the Indus Valley Civilization is studied today. The question of what religion the Harappans practiced still remains unanswered and a great mystery. The main reason that archaeologists and anthropologists are unsure of their religion is because there have been no remnants of temples unearthed

8 9

in the Indus Valley.11 However, terracotta pots and seals stamped with the religious figures of the Mother Goddess, Shiva, and Shakti have been excavated at the site of the city of Harappa.12 All of these figures are thought to have played a very important role in the Harappans’ everyday life. The stamped seals depict animal sacrifices and religious ceremonies that the inhabitants of the valley performed. Furthermore, the Indus Valley Civilization is thought to be the first to develop Hinduism, an incredibly popular religion in today’s world. The religion of the Harappan people is studied today both to determine the civilization’s true religious beliefs and to

bring to light its impact on modern religions with similar beliefs. The creative inventions of the Harappan people are another one of the reasons they are a worthwhile and inspiring civilization to study. Their inventions include those of innovative cooking methods, a system of weights and measures, step seals, and systems of drainage and sewage. Theories on their cooking techniques were developed when archaeologists discovered the remnants of mud ovens at the site of the Harappan city of Mohenjo-Daro. Anthropologists think that the ovens were used to bake bread and other foods.13 The Harappans were one of the first civilizations to have such advanced methods of cooking.14 Another outcome of the Harappans’ creativity was the genesis of the stamp seal. In earlier civilizations, people created column-shaped objects with engraved pictures on them that they then rolled over clay. The invention of the stamp seal made this process much more efficient. Used to stake claim to their property and create art, the Harappans would engrave images on clay, let it dry, and then stamp it onto wet clay.15 This invention was used until the 20th century when people began using rubber instead of clay.16 The Harappans also created a form of writing called

“Harappan Culture” Lumen Learning. Nov. 18th, 2019, https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldcivilization/chapter/harappan-culture/ “ Indus River Valley Civilizations” Khan Academy. Nov. 17th, 2019, https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/world-history-beginnings/ancientindia/a/the-indus-river-valley-civilizations 10 Ibid 11 “Indus Valley Civilization” Ancient History Encyclopedia. Nov. 18th, 2019, https://www.ancient.eu/article/230/religious-developments-in-ancient-india/ 12 “Stamp seal and modern impression: unicorn and incense burner” The Met Museum. Nov. 19th 2019, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/ search/324062 13 “Revealing Pakistan’s ancient art and inventions” National Geographic. Nov. 19th, 2019 https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2013/04/17/revealing-india-andpakistans-ancient-art-and-inventions/ 14 ibid 15 “Indus River Valley Civilizations” Khan Academy. Nov. 17th, 2019, https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/world-history-beginnings/ancientindia/a/the-indus 16 “Seals” National Archives. Nov. 18th, 2019, https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/seals/

The Art of Writing

the Indus Script, and it remains one of the greatest mysteries of their culture. None of the symbols they used in their writing resemble any other written forms of that time period and are yet to be deciphered.17 Although all of these results of the Indus Valley dwellers’ creativity was impactful to their civilization one way or another, the development of a weights and measures system was one of the most powerful inventions of their time. An instrument made of ivory was crafted to measure the tidal clock and the horizon.18 They could also divide numbers to be as small as 1.6 mm, which was the smallest division ever recorded throughout the entire Bronze Age.19 The development of this system

was also very useful in trade. The Harappans could measure and weigh their luxury goods.20 In the long run, the creative invention made by the citizens of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro led, in part, to the success of their civilization and culture. Overall, the roles of trade, creativity, religion, and natural resources all

make the Indus Valley Civilization a fascinating culture to study. They laid down the guideposts for future civilizations leading all the way up to modern society. Through their civilization, there is now a standard system of trading that has influenced the world greatly along with providing researchers information on the difference between civilizations and cultures. Given the broad influence of their civilization, one question comes to mind: Had the Aryans never taken over the Harappan territory and forced the Indus Valley Civilization to fall, would the world be more advanced than it is today?

Works Cited Metmuseum.org, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/324062. Howley, Andrew. “Revealing India and Pakistan’s Ancient Art and Inventions.” National Geographic Society Newsroom, 14 Dec. 2017, blog.nationalgeographic. org/2013/04/17/revealing-india-and-pakistans-ancient-art-and-inventions/. “Indus River Valley Civilizations.” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/world-history-beginnings/ancient-india/a/theindus-river-valley-civilizations. “Indus River Valley Civilizations.” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/world-history-beginnings/ancient-india/a/theindus-river-valley-civilizations. McLean, John. “World Civilization.” Harappan Culture | World Civilization, courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldcivilization/chapter/harappan-culture/. National Archives. “Seals.” The National Archives, The National Archives, 9 July 2019, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/seals/. Sanujit. “Religious Developments in Ancient India.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History Encyclopedia, 24 Nov. 2019, www.ancient.eu/article/230/religiousdevelopments-in-ancient-india/. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Indus Civilization.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 23 Oct. 2019, www.britannica.com/topic/Induscivilization. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Indus Civilization.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 23 Oct. 2019, www.britannica.com/topic/Induscivilization. Violatti, Cristian. “Indus Script.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History Encyclopedia, 23 Nov. 2019, www.ancient.eu/Indus_Script/

17 “Indus Script” Ancient History Encyclopedia. Nov. 17th, 2019, https://www.ancient.eu/Indus_Script/ 18 “Harappan Culture” Lumen Learning. Nov. 18th, 2019, https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldcivilization/chapter/harappan-culture/ 19 ibid 20 ibid

Sixth Gr ade Adventur e

in Wonder land N

ot one, not two, but thr ee Alices led a sixth grade ensemble of playing cards, Cheshire Cats, singing flowers, a white rabbit, and a host of crazy characters down the rabbit hole in this year’s sixth grade musical, Alice in Wonderland JR. Every year our sixth graders take over the Playhouse and take on a musical – an experience that provides a wonderful opportunity for the kids to bond, and, for students who haven’t been in a musical before, a safe place to test the water.

“It’s our sixth grade model,” Director Michael Florio explained. “Everyone participates. The kids usually audition for the main roles and then I cast them. But I always want them to feel that no matter what their role is, they’re important and we couldn’t do the show without them.” 22

ce . . . n a V e i C ha r l Hea r ts f o n e e Qu ad a big role! y

e actuall Q: You h y first tim m s a w t I A: a play. acting in vous? you ner e r es, e W : Q t show, y e the firs r fo I e . ’t B n : A as r that I w but afte . my lines knew all be in a to t n ou wa y o D : Q again? musical ! efinitely ite A: Yes! D ur favor o y t was Q: Wha arsals. I part? the rehe d e k li y ll tage and A: I rea on the s g in e b d like friends hing my tc a w d e I lik ning all ked lear li I d n A act. y. eograph the chor

Caroline Kell eher . . . Cate r pilla r

Q: Have you been in many musicals? A: No. When I was three I was in Annie, but I only had one line. Q: Was it fun? A: It was fun. I didn’t really get nervous. I don’t get nervous with this stuff. Q: Will you try out for another musical? A: Yes! I definitely would want to be in another one. It was really fun. It teaches you how to be in a group and work together.

Wr en F W h ite r eu n d . . . R a bb i Q: Of a t ll the m

usicals you’ve and p been in , what’s lays favorit your e role so far? A: This one – t he Whit Q: Wh e Rabb at was it. y our fav of Alice orite p ? art A: I like d watc h in g from th backsta e ge and experie from a ncing it differen t spot. being t I liked he star o f the mu one sce sical in ne. Q: Wou ld you like to anothe be in r music A: Yes! al at RC I hope S? we do High S chool M usical!

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yo Q: How did e Alices? re th of the We all had A: Super fun. r each other. nicknames fo rite part? Q: Your favo tire t of fun the en A: I had a lo ene sc e th ly ab time, but prob it e White Rabb I did with th Wren e us ca be rite was my favo ve bbit] and I ha [the White Ra d for so long. An been friends ch work with ea we wanted to awesome. other. It was d? Q: Was it har d our parts an ew kn l A: We al us of e on ot N . when to go on e. ene or our cu missed our sc

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Au b Lom r ey Na ba r d o r Dut r ator . . . Q: H ch e s s an d ow

the did it fe fi e stag rst per l to be son e, re on Car citin ol g Le Jabb l’s poe w is m e A: T errif rwocky “The y ” fun, ing! It w ? thou as k ind gh. of

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gler . . . Jackson Mu m TweedleneDrvuous?

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2019 It’s a tradition! On September 20, Rippowam Cisqua School kicked off the 2019-20 school year by bringing back its popular Friday Night Lights Family Carnival. School pride was in abundance on the sun drenched late summer evening as over 450 members of the RCS community gathered on Meyers Fields to celebrate the start of another incredible year at Rippowam Cisqua School.

FNL 2019 Chair Cyndi Azima and the Friday Night Lights Family Carnival Committee, including Julie Cooper, Lisa Kaufmann, Magda Pauley, and Elizabeth

Wichmann, along with an army of volunteers, transformed Meyers Fields with beautiful fall themed decorations that set the perfect tone for a magical night. Lining the fields were carnival games, inflatables, face painting tables, popcorn, ping pong, corn hole, our RCS bouncy house, and the alumni beer tent. Food trucks added to the excitement and record amounts of pizza, hot dogs, ice cream, and tacos were served. Students, parents, alumni, and faculty members all cheered on our varsity boys and varsity girls soccer teams in their matches against strong teams

from Greenwich. As the sun went down, the DJ had everyone dancing and the Dunk Tank once again proved to be the most popular attraction, with students lining up for the chance to “Drop a Teacher in the Tank.” New this year, a commemorative FNL 2019 T-shirt designed by RCS parent (and FNL 2019 committee member) Julie Cooper sold out in its first week of sales. As darkness fell, everyone gathered in the center of Field 2 for the lighting of the bonfire, which burst spectacularly into flames and brought the perfect endnote to an incredible evening.

Ripp Rally Day

By Cheryl Coyle, Physical Education Teacher We started Ripp Rally Day in 2015 as a fun way to kick off the school year and bring the whole school together on one campus as one community. The first week of school, each Upper School student is paired up with a student in Grades 1-4. Prior to Ripp Rally Day, the first through fourth graders write letters to their Upper School partners to introduce themselves before the big day. On Ripp Rally Day, Upper School students travel to the Lower School to meet their partners and participate in eleven different activities and games while JPK and SPK students cheer on the action from the hill above the athletics fields. It’s truly an all-school event! The morning is comprised of different stations to ensure that there is something for everyone to enjoy. The Athletics Department collaborates every year to have new activities, adapt others, and make

sure that the morning runs smoothly. The department’s main focus is to make it a morning that is exciting, challenging, and fun for students and teachers alike. Ripp Rally Day promotes teamwork, cooperation, strategy, arts, wellness, and school spirit. As activity leaders, ninth graders play an important role in Ripp Rally Day. It’s a perfect opportunity for the nines to practice their leadership skills as they communicate with groups of children and adapt to the different groups that rotate through their station. Faculty support the nines throughout the day encouraging them to ask themselves, “How is this going for me? How is this experience going for who I am teaching? What are some positive things that are happening at my station? How can I improve it for the

next group?” These guided questions help the ninth graders learn to take responsibility for their station and it shows when they are in front of their peers, especially if they are running for Red/Blue Captain. The ninth graders this year rose to the occasion and were great role models for all ages. Most of all, Ripp Rally Day allows everyone to play games, have fun, try their best, and be a good friend. Laughing, singing, piggy backs, hugs – it’s a win-win! This partnership between campuses helps set a positive tone that continues throughout the year. The hope is for both campuses to communicate with their partners through June by writing letters, drawing pictures and sometimes FaceTiming their partner groups. In May, the partners will meet again one last time for Walk to Cisqua, when the Upper School students will walk over to the Lower School. Rewind, repeat, and renew! Go RCS!

The team behind this year’s Ripp Rally Day (left to right): Jen Sednaoui, Vincent Kwarula, Lou Tocco, and Cheryl Coyle. “Being a supportive teammate and a gracious competitor is one of the most valuable lessons that we can teach our children and practice in our world today,” Mrs. Coyle said. “The children respond well when it is connected to games and activities that they enjoy. I am thankful every day that I have the opportunity to provide our children with the perfect setting that will help them become lifelong movers and respectful citizens of our community.”

Ripp Rally Day

Ripp Rally Day Makes The Hoot !

By Hoot reporters Sophie Slocum and Millie Brown

Fourth graders who love looking for the next scoop – and writing about it – are joining the staff of The Hoot, our Lower School newspaper. Students research, write, and edit (with guidance from advisor Nicole Putorti) a publication that is quickly becoming an all-school favorite. Ripp Rally Day was on Friday, September 13. It was so much fun! Once our Upper School friends reached the Lower School everyone went outside to start the fun! Mrs. M, Mrs. Vincent, and Mrs. Heinrich had an awesome station where everyone wrote down their hopes and dreams on a piece of paper and then rolled it up and glued it to cardboard letters “R,” “C,” and “S.” The ninth graders led some of the stations, which was really cool. And guess what?! We had a yoga station, which was pretty hard but it was also very relaxing. Mrs. Jordan and two ninth grade students organized two games. One of the games was kind of like Sharks and Minnows, except you linked arms with your partner. The other really fun activity that we played was Noodle Tag. Mr. Cameron’s station had four bases with two pins on each base. We had to race someone, stopping by each base, to collect a total of three pins. Once we had collected all our pins we headed for home to hand them off to our partner and then they had to put them all back before the other team did. There were many more activities and games but if we told you all of them it would take awhile. Ripp Rally Day was awesome!

RCS in Pictures Fall 2019 Events

Halloween

Kindergarten Performance

RCS in Pictures Fall 2019 Events

Holiday Concert

Revels

Sports Update

Fall Sports Wrap-up Girls Varsity Soccer

Coaches: Marie Peña, Katie Wrinn Coaches Award: Amariah Leckie, Lainey Spencer Most Valuable Players: Eve Doran, Juliet Kaufmann, Rowan McGinnis

Boys Varsity Soccer

Coach: Vincent Kwarula Most Improved: Henry Brown, Alex Shtohryn Coaches Award: Will Ghriskey, Bryce O’Brien Most Valuable Players: Alex Krusko, Kaseme Leckie, Achylles Pons-Beltsyk

Varsity Field Hockey

Cross Country

Varsity Volleyball

Varsity Flag Football

Coaches: Brooks Eleck, Ridley Sperling Most Improved: Maggie O’Callaghan Coaches Award: Emily Vance Most Valuable Player: Annie Hallock

Coaches: Miles Cameron, Analia Pizzi Most Improved: Madeleine Port Coaches Award: Clara Guettel Most Valuable Players: Valentina Masseroli, Paloma Snisky

Coach: Katrina Harriman Most Improved: Lucas Peacock Coaches Award: Ana Snisky Most Valuable Player: Eoghan Glynn

Coach: Max Moise Most Improved: Rhys Marschke Coaches Award: Joe Citrin Most Valuable Player: Harry Whitman

Flag Football Jamboree RCS fifth and sixth grade football enthusiasts pulled on their cleats and headed to Meyers Fields for the inaugural RCS Flag Football Jamboree on September 23, 2019. Athletic Director Vincent Kwarula launched the jamboree to give the athletes an opportunity for skill development and to get to know the rules of flag football early in the season. Joining Ripp in the competition were teams from New Canaan Country School and Ridgefield Academy. “Ripp played well,” football coach Max Moise said. “Some of the games were very competitive.” RCS added flag football to the roster three years ago. Since then, multiple schools have transitioned from tackle to flag football. “Flag football still teaches the fundamentals of football: running, catching, and passing the ball,” Coach Moise said. “Our players are just not getting tackled. Students who enjoy the game still have an opportunity to play.” “We emphasize development over winning,” Coach Kwarula added. “I am passionate about sports – the process of developing players’ skills, bonding a strong and united team, and developing a good work ethic during practice and games.” It was a great afternoon for all!

Sports Update

Winter Sports Wrap-up Girls Varsity Basketball

Coaches: Max Moise, Analia Pizzi Most Improved: Jackie Neary, Paloma Snisky Coaches Award: Lila O’Brien Most Valuable Players: Sela Halaifonua, Eva Rodgers

Boys Varsity Basketball

Coach: Gavin Robinson Most Improved: Kaseme Leckie Coaches Award: Joe Citrin Most Valuable Player: Ryan Goldenberg

Coed Varsity Ice Hockey

Coaches: Jamie Mendelsohn, Lou Tocco Most Improved: Jackson Cooper, Colin Smith Coaches Award: Luke Bai Natural Goal Scorer: Maggie O’Callaghan Defensive Player of the Year: Will Ghriskey Most Valuable Player: Bryce O’Brien

Coed Squash

Coaches: Storrs Coté, Jennifer Sednaoui Most Improved: Divina Allyn, Charlie Gordon, Lucas Peacock Coaches Award: Lindsey Gaynor, Annie Hallock, Andy Pauley Most Valuable Players: Oliver Jones, Harry Whitman 38

Varsity Hockey Undefeated

Congratulations to the coed varsity hockey team for an exciting 8-0 finish this winter!

“It was one of those magical seasons where everything just happened to fall into place,” hockey coach Lou Tocco said. “The majority of our players have been playing ice hockey for a long time and many are currently playing on travel teams. Players new to the game quickly acclimated. We had excellent goaltending, strong defense, and an extremely creative offense. Team cohesion was natural and players were motivated to assist their teammates in experiencing the joy of scoring goals. This can be attributed to ninth grader Bryce O’Brien leading by example. The unselfish act of looking to pass first and shoot second became contagious and the result was a team that can only be described as the play-making team!”

Faculty Profile

Tim Smee

Upper School Language Arts Teacher, Grade 6 Dean, Head Dean In an issue about writing, we knew we wanted to profile Tim Smee – a teacher who has kids literally jumping out of their seats to talk about verbs. He’s a great lover of literature (“reading is the single most important thing you can do in school and in life”) and his knack for engendering that same enthusiasm in his students is at the center of everything he does. Teaching is Mr. Smee’s second career. After 21 years in a job that he never really enjoyed, he took a leave of absence when his wife, at IBM, was transferred to Australia. He started substitute teaching there, and before he knew it, he was hooked. Back in America in 2003, a friend pointed Mr. Smee in Ripp’s direction. “I became a 40-something intern,” he says with a laugh. “Everything clicked. I was having a ball. I just loved coming to work.” RCS: What is the role of a Dean at RCS? TS: For our most important constituents, our students, I’d say the Dean is a social, emotional, and academic mentor, an advocate, and a cheerleader. For parents, the Dean is a liaison to both the faculty and the administration – a middle school ombudsman of sorts. I’m laughing… I don’t often get the opportunity to use the word ombudsman! For the faculty, the Dean is a resource, a person to go to for support, guidance, and camaraderie. RCS: Now you’re also the Head Dean. Tell us more about that... what does a Head Dean do? How does this new

position change our Upper School? TS: The Head Dean is a new position and I am still learning the ropes and the role. Much like a grade level Dean supports the faculty, I’d like to think I’m a source of support for my fellow Deans but the opposite is equally true. Consequently, it has been an easy gig so far. We have an awesome Dean team and though it is a diverse group, I find it uncanny how similarly we view most middle school issues. Though much has changed in my time at RCS, the constant has been the joy

“What you learn joyously, you never forget.” No secrets here. of working with an outstanding group of colleagues, of friends. Part 2 – This new structure has changed the Upper School for the better! Kindness, respect, and responsibility are on the rise. Our attention and focus have shifted to students who do the right thing. RCS: What’s a typical day like for you? TS: There are no typical days in middle school! And rather than being a complaint, it is probably the primary reason why most of us work in this environment. I come in every day with what I think is a well-conceived plan and if I accomplish one-third of it, I’m happy. Other days the plan is totally scrapped but something more amazing and more rewarding often occurs. Two former students just drove up to the 5/6 hallway in an electric

go-cart they built. They stopped in to tell me about the construction of the vehicle and we chatted about battery technology and sustainable energy. And we reminisced a bit about the old days. With barely restrained excitement, they told me about the schools to which they were just admitted. All to say plans are very overrated. RCS: Why sixth grade? You could be teaching any grade, so why this one? TS: Life is funny, often random. I knew from the get-go that middle school was my lane. I spent my first few years teaching seventh and eighth grades but when one of my mentors, Bill Barrett, was promoted to division head, we needed someone to take his sixth grade homeroom position. I was reluctant to teach sixth; I thought I might find minds too young. What I found were kindred spirits and a home. RCS: Students are excited about learning in your classroom. What’s your secret? TS: If I can get excited about linking verbs, well, maybe it becomes contagious! But I have no secrets; I learned my craft by watching and trying to emulate the many generous and talented RCS faculty I admired. I carry a piece of each of them with me. The Greenwoods, the Kobers, the Barretts, the Potters, the Perrys, and so many others taught me that kids are just like the rest of us. They want to be respected, to be cared for; they want to learn and, as Cyndi says, they want to have fun! “What you learn joyously, you never forget.” No secrets here.

Faculty Spotlight

Paul Ragonesi

Upper School Math Teacher, Grade 7 Dean

As a teacher, artist, coach, Dean team member, and friend, Paul Ragonesi has brightened the lives (and dorm room walls) of hundreds of RCS students since starting his teaching journey as an RCS apprentice 15 years ago. He brings a remarkable energy to everything he does and is beloved by students, alumni, parents, and colleagues. RCS: What brought you to teaching and to RCS? PR: An intern/apprentice position opened up at the Lower School in 2005 and I figured I loved working with kids so I would see what teaching was like. After working for three months in my apprenticeship I fell in love with the magic that I witnessed and enrolled in college to get my master’s degree. RCS: What are some of your favorite things about teaching math? PR: Math is a subject that to some extent everyone uses, beyond their years in middle school. Unlike other classes, math can be seen in black and white, where there is one correct answer. I can prove and show someone with their own hand(s) that 2 + 1 = 3.

RCS: If you had not become a teacher, what would you be doing today? PR: This is difficult to answer because of the butterfly effect. Before I pursued

my career in education I was a Political Science major and after interning in the United Nations I wanted to be a lobbyist. At the same time I was also a bouncer in college. I have an eclectic taste in life so there are many things I could have focused on. RCS: What kind of student were you? PR: Thinking back I was probably a student of desired taste (LOL). I was energetic, social, athletic, artistic, and at times a bit of a wise guy but I like to call it being quick witted. RCS: So many RCS alumni come back to visit you. What surprises you most when you see your former students? PR: How much their appearances have changed as well as what they are up to in life. I was blessed to loop with a few classes early on in my career and had the luxury of growing with those students. As they grew in age I advanced as an instructor. I have pictures working with students when they were eight, and when they returned to see me some of them were in their 20s. It’s fun to look up at a student who is taller than I am. Especially because when we first met they were only as tall as where my elbow rests with my arms down!

RCS: Everyone loves Ragz Tagz. When did you start drawing? PR: I started drawing letters when I was around 10 years old. I would go with my father to his job most weekends and sit in his office bored out of my mind. He would hand me blank paper from the printer and tell me to draw while he finished up. I couldn’t think of anything to draw so he told me to draw what I saw on the way to his job. He was probably thinking cars, trees, bridges, homes – there were plenty of things to draw. The next time I went with him to work I took pictures with a Polaroid camera of some graffiti that was on the highway on the way to his job. When I got to his office I looked at the pictures and tried to copy them. At some point I did not need the pictures anymore and I created my own alphabet. I would do this repeatedly, changing the letters

Staff Spotlight Lori Adelsberg slightly each time until I developed my own style.

Admissions Associate

RCS: How many of your former students have Ragz Tagz hanging in their dorm rooms? PR: Well, I hope all the students I created one for have them currently hanging up in their dorms or bedrooms or offices! To answer the question I stopped counting after a while but I would say over 25 students have an original Ragz Tagz canvas. I have a folder with all the original drawings of each piece I created at home; I just never counted. RCS: As a teacher do you have a favorite time of the school day or school year? PR: Recess is my favorite time of the school day. If anyone ever wants to see true happiness in its natural form, be outside before the students are let out for recess. Smiling faces sprinting for a spot on the swings creates an energy that keeps me in this profession. RCS: Who or what inspires you? PR: I draw inspiration from many facets of life. Street art/culture, nature, music, dancing, family members, and some of my colleagues. My first mentor Susan Hurley was/is an inspiration to me. I hope one day I can be half as good at teaching as she is! RCS: What is one thing your students would be surprised to learn about you? PR: I fractured my skull three times in my youth. The third time resulted in eight blood clots on my brain. During my recovery I heard the doctor tell my parents, “When he comes to he may not have the same abilities or brain function.” I still remember that conversation, which led me to working with handicapped children as a camp counselor at 16 and then a Special Olympics coach when I was 18. After my B.A. in Political Science did not pan out in terms of a career, I decided I should go back to working with kids because that was what made me happiest. This led to my apprenticeship at Cisqua in 2005, which then inspired me to get my Masters in Education and here we are today.

In the 15 years since Lori Adelsberg joined the RCS Admissions team, she guesses she’s met with well over 1,000 families. “It gives me such pleasure to be able to help families find out about our wonderful school,” she says. Incredibly thoughtful and always upbeat, Mrs. Adelsberg has a special way of connecting with parents and their children – from the first email or phone call, to student visits and interviews, to graduation ceremonies many years later. “I like to think of my role this way,” she says. “The care I give prospective families during the admissions process provides them with a glimpse into the way their child will be treated when they are a part of the RCS family.” Mrs. Adelsberg learns about prospective students through many varied perspectives, from her multiple interactions with them, to hearing what students’ current teachers have to say, to the way their parents describe them. Last year, she was so inspired by the powerful words

prospective parents used to describe their children when they wrote about them – words like affectionate and ambitious, caring and confident, delightful and determined, generous, honest, and well-mannered – that she created a work of art to represent all the wonderful students who were newly enrolled to graciously welcome them to RCS. “I appreciate that we are invited to bring new ideas and innovations to the work that we do,” she says. Mrs. Adelsberg’s art piece was shared with new students at a welcome event last spring and is now hanging in the Lower School lobby. “After all my years here, I still feel that I learn something new every day,” Mrs. Adelsberg says with a smile. “We enjoy a laugh (or two or three) every day in Admissions! It is a joy to work with children and their parents. I especially enjoy seeing the students who we meet initially through the admissions process mature and thrive and eventually enjoy great success after graduation as a result of the excellent education they received at RCS.”

The Nantucket Project + RCS A Partnership Featuring “The Function of the Friction” Partnering with The Nantucket Project, RCS was thrilled to welcome back New York Times bestselling authors (and dear friends) Kelly Corrigan and Dr. Lisa Damour for a special evening and important conversation around dealing with the teens we love. A packed house and community crowd welcomed this neighborhood discussion in our very own Playhouse on January 29, as Kelly Corrigan shared excerpts from her 2018 nonfiction work, Tell Me More.

“parenting can at times be exhausting and heinous, it is occasionally divine.”

The Playhouse was transformed into a space of social gathering for more than 250 attendees who came curiously seeking a chance to connect, and share personal stories. Through Ms. Corrigan and Dr. Damour, sparks of thoughtful discussion filled the room with heart and wonder – and a chance to get real – through laughter and a few tears, reminding us that a teen’s “drive to autonomy trumps everything.” As Ms. Corrigan peppered Dr. Damour That’s exactly what RCS is doing for with several questions to gather our students – teaching them to be insights around raising our teens and independent thinkers and confident the friction that often goes along with it, communicators, ready for their next she reminded the audience that while chapters. And thanks to an evening

with Kelly Corrigan and Lisa Damour, we’ll hopefully be more ready and willing to let them all go. (Left to right) Colm MacMahon, Kelly Corrigan, and Lisa Damour

Back on Campus James Reimer ’10 RCS alumnus James Reimer ’10 was behind the camera at the “Function of the Friction” event on January 29. James is an assistant editor at The Nantucket Project, where he has worked for the last two years. After graduating from RCS in 2010, James went on to Suffield Academy and Rollins College where he majored in English.

(Left to right) Michael Florio and James Reimer

“It was so great being able to work with James again. I always appreciated his help backstage during our performances at RCS. He added a much-needed levity and was a great asset to our tech crew. Seeing him again brought back all those wonderful memories. I am glad to see that he has focused his passion on technology. I cannot wait to see what else he accomplishes,” said Michael Florio, Upper School Math Teacher and Drama Teacher.

Retirement

Wendy Weaver Wendy Weaver supported RCS students and families for 13 years as an integral member of the Upper School office staff. Following the Thanksgiving 2019 holiday, Mrs. Weaver and her husband retired to their home in Florida. Before she left, students gathered to celebrate her time at RCS, to congratulate her on her retirement, and to wish her luck in her move. Much like she had done countless times over the course of her tenure, students delivered one final “pink note” to Mrs. Weaver, asking her to join them for a student assembly in the Playhouse. This allowed students, faculty, and staff one final opportunity to show appreciation for all that she had done! Q: Why did you choose to work at RCS? What year did you start? A: I began working at RCS in 2007 after I received a call from the then Head of School, Eileen Lambert. She thought the position would be a good fit for me and I couldn’t agree more!

fifth graders to mature ninth graders. I was so fortunate to be able to interact with the kids every day! Q: How would you describe a typical day in the Front Office? A: Every day was different and we were always multitasking, answering calls from parents who needed to get a note to their child or had a question about an upcoming event, covering classes, helping students and teachers with questions, and, of course, the typical office work. We always made time to laugh! Q: What do you miss the most? A: RCS has a special place in my heart. I miss my colleagues, the students, and the parents. I miss it all! Q: What did you enjoy most about working at RCS? A: That’s a tough one! I enjoyed all of my time at RCS but I especially loved working with my amazing colleagues each day and also watching the students grow from tiny

Q: What are you most excited for as you look to the future? A: Enjoying life each day with my husband. RCS students bid farewell to Wendy Weaver

Master Teaching Fund Grant Recipients The Rippowam Cisqua School Alumni Association established the Master Teaching Fund (MTF) in 1992 in honor of the School’s former faculty members. The fund has grown and evolved over the decades, and, for many years, it has served as a wonderful and deeplyappreciated way of honoring current faculty members for their years of service to the School. In 2016, Head of School Colm MacMahon, in conjunction with the Alumni Board, expanded the Master

Teaching Fund to include all full-time staff members as well. Today, all faculty and staff members who have completed at least five years of full-time service at RCS are eligible to apply for a grant. Teachers and staff members become eligible in the fall of the year following the completion of five years of employment at RCS, and after completion of each succeeding fifth anniversary of full-time employment.

Every year, gifts to the MTF come from both current and past parents as well as from RCS alumni from across the country and around the world. The allocation of funds from the MTF is managed by the RCS Alumni Association Board in conjunction with representatives from the School. Grants are approved and awarded by the RCS Alumni Association Board. Last year, the Alumni Board awarded seven grants to teachers and staff members.

Mike Bowman Technology Specialist “One of the projects that I have been procrastinating on for many years is the installation of a home generator that could handle the needs of our home in times of an emergency. This need was made ever more obvious this past year when a series of ice storms, and then later a tornado, disrupted power in Putnam County for over a week. With the help of family, neighbors, the local Fire Company, and even the hot showers at my gym, we were able to handle the circumstances until power was restored. Moving forward, however, and especially with the addition of a baby to the equation, it felt essential that I take steps to make my home more self-sufficient.” The Bowman family has a new home generator.

Bob Cherubini Upper School Maintenance “I was extremely grateful that I was able to use my MTF grant to take my family on a trip to Italy. We visited my daughter, Bethany, who was studying abroad at the time. We toured the Colosseum in Rome, visited Michaelangelo’s David in Florence, and sailed through Venice. This grant meant a lot to my family, and especially to Bethany and me; the school has been practically a second home to both of us. This is my twenty-sixth year working at RCS, and Bethany was not only a student from SPK-Grade 5, but she has also worked on campus for the last seven summers. We are so appreciative that we were able to take this breathtaking trip.”

Bob Cherubini used his grant to take his family to Italy.

Brooks Eleck Associate Director of Secondary School Placement, Upper School Humanities, Language Arts/Writing

Brooks Eleck and her children visited her sister in California over their 2019 spring break.

“Receiving the MTF grant this year allowed my children and me to visit my sister and her four children in Southern California! We spent a week together out in the sun and relaxed, swam, read, and played. It was a terrific opportunity to simply be part of their lives and enjoy the California sunshine. Because of the grant, we were able to fly, stay at a resort, and treat everyone to a day on Balboa Island. It was an incredible experience and we feel very fortunate to have had such a terrific opportunity that helped us all recharge our batteries and enjoy time together as a family over spring break.”

Nancy Finch Lower School Administrative Assistant “Thanks to the generosity of the Alumni Association, I was able to refresh the most used space in my home. I used my MTF grant to purchase a couch and had a favorite chair and ottoman reupholstered. Now I walk into my living room and smile!” Nancy Finch refreshed her living room with the help of the MTF grant.

Bill Fornara Upper School Music, Chorus, and Guitar Teacher “I was excited for the opportunity to acquire a professional jazz guitar. I got it right before the winter break, and it has inspired me to continue my study of the instrument and share knowledge with my students. Additionally, I purchased a new laptop computer and music notation software. My primary goal with the computer and software was to create a band method book for my fifth grade band students. I was motivated to present material in a more clean and developmentally appropriate sequence. I began using these books with my students this fall and am pleased with their effectiveness.” Bill Fornara purchased a Gibson ES-335 semi-hollowbody guitar and a new laptop with music software with his MTF grant.

Dottie Korovich Business Office Assistant “My husband and I used my MTF grant to travel to Europe, visiting Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. We traveled the Romantic Road, a very popular route through Germany. Our stops included Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Nuremberg, Munich, Salzburg, and Luzerne. We traveled to Dachau Concentration Camp, the Salzburg Salt Mines, Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden, Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg, and Neuschwanstein Castle, from which Disney modeled his castle. Of course, no trip to Germany would be complete without an obligatory visit to the Oktoberfest. My sincere thanks to the Alumni Committee – we had a blast. Prost!” Dottie Korovich and her husband visited the Oktoberfest in Munich.

Ridley Sperling ’93 Director of Secondary School Placement, DEI CoCoordinator, Ninth Grade English, Writing Workshop, Thesis and Ethics Teacher “I used my MTF grant to travel with my mother to the East Anglia region of England where we learned about the history of the area, visited numerous small towns, and explored a new-to-me area of one of my favorite countries! The countryside and the wildlife were beautiful, and one of the highlights for me was getting to swim in the North Sea. It was also fun to visit Windsor Castle on the way in and Cambridge University before heading home.“

Ridley Sperling and her mother explored England.

Lou Tocco Grades 3-4 Science Teacher “We are fortunate to have this amazing opportunity that provides faculty and staff with something super cool to look forward to! My five-year grant provided an awesome experience as I went on a ten-day DIY backcountry traditional archery elk hunt in Montana. I used my ten-year grant for something practical and fun. I used a portion of it to pay off the remaining balance of a student loan. Saying goodbye to that ongoing monthly payment provided me with the opportunity to purchase a brand new Toyota Tacoma 4X4 TRD Off Road truck. The other half was used to go fly fishing for trout in Idaho and Oregon. My travels out West also provided me with the opportunity to visit with family and friends. I had a ‘reel’ good time!” Lou Tocco used his MTF grant to go fly fishing in Idaho and Oregon.

Message from the PA Chair Dear RCS Families, Part of what makes RCS so special is the strength of its community. The RCS Parents Association strives to celebrate our families, faculty, and staff. Thanks to our many parent volunteers, we have been able to engage our community in a number of ways. Here are some highlights from the year to date.

Grade Representatives and Lower School Class Parents – Building Community Thanks to our dedicated parent volunteers, each grade has a parent representative to help us coordinate PA events and to help keep the channels of communication open between the families, the Parents Association, and the RCS administration. The PA Executive Team meets regularly with Grade Representatives to make sure that we have each grade in our school represented as we plan our PA events. Class parents serve as direct liaisons for JPK-Grade 4 teachers to coordinate classroom events with families. Grade Representatives have helped to organize casual gatherings and cocktail parties for our parents to have the opportunity to gather socially outside of school.

PA Hosted Coffee & Curriculum Mornings The PA launched a new Coffee & Curriculum series highlighting the programming and curriculum at RCS. This series provides parents with the opportunity to hear directly

from faculty about the academic and extracurricular programming they are using in the classroom. Here is a recap of our 2019-20 Coffee & Curriculum series: • Grades 5-9 Writing Program October 17, 2019 Led by Curriculum Coordinator Jordan Schnell, RCS teachers representing each Upper School grade – Christy Smith, Tim Smee, Marie Peña, Marie Garcia, and Ridley Sperling – explained the core curriculum of the writing program at each grade level. Starting with fifth grade, the faculty showed parents how the curriculum builds on the previous year to provide a cohesive writing program at RCS. • RCS Wellness Program November 19, 2019 Emily Gifford, Matt Hall, Katrina Harriman, Jessica Knopke, and Nicole Levy explained the new wellness initiatives being used at the Lower School and at the Upper School. The speakers demonstrated to parents how they are introducing wellness practices into daily classroom learning. • Ninth Grade TED Talks and Director of Athletics Vincent Kwarula January 16, 2020 To highlight the ninth grade Capstone programming, a ninth grade student presented her TED Talk for parents. Matt Hall and Tim Hart facilitated a question and answer with ninth grade students to describe the process of selecting, researching, and presenting a TED Talk to the entire Upper School community. Director of Athletics

Vincent Kwarula gave parents an overview of the RCS athletics program for Grades 5-9, and explained how younger grades prepare for middle school athletics. He described the athletic choices available to our students and explained how practices and games are run. • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion March 3, 2020 Ridley Sperling ’93 talked about the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the core mission of RCS, sharing what the faculty has been doing internally through workshops, book club discussions, and curriculum development, as well as external professional development. Ms. Sperling also explained how faculty training is translating to the classroom setting and how students are benefitting from this.

Showing Appreciation To show our appreciation for faculty and staff, the Parents Association has assigned each grade with a date to bring a special faculty breakfast to the faculty lounges. We have also hosted a happy hour for faculty and staff. Thank you to the many parents who have come together to make this such a wonderful year. It takes a village!

Lisa Kaufmann PA Chair

Harvest Moon – An RCS Parent Celebration In November, we celebrated community with a fabulous night at our Harvest Moon parent cocktail party. Parents, faculty, and staff got together to share an evening of music played by RCS’s own Ed Cusati ’94, and enjoyed delicious drinks and food by Chef Jonathan at SAGE. Harvest Moon

kicked off our PA fundraisers Ripp the Box, the Wine Raffle, and the Holiday Raffle. Thanks to the generosity of the RCS community, we had donations to fill more than 100 boxes with surprise gifts ranging from sports tickets to gift certificates to local restaurants and stores. The Wine Raffle was filled with

donations of choice wines, and the Holiday Raffle highlighted a beautiful gingerbread house artfully decorated by our parent volunteers. Thanks to our parent community, the PA was able to raise money that will directly benefit our faculty and our school.

About the Parents Association Parents are an invaluable part of the Rippowam Cisqua School community who selflessly give of their time and talent to make the School a vibrant and welcoming place for families. As valued partners, we rely on the Parents Association to serve as a conduit between the parent body and the faculty, staff, and administration in support of the School’s mission. Every family automatically becomes a member of the Parents Association from the first day their child is enrolled in the School. The Parents Association provides many opportunities for parents to get engaged throughout the year. Whether you attend an event or organize one, your participation in the Parents Association adds to the vitality of the Rippowam Cisqua School community and enhances the overall experience for your entire family

Alumni Spotlight

Taylor Simmons ’04 my goal was to come back and teach at Rippowam after I graduated from college. It not only prepared me well for boarding school, but instilled a love of learning that I’ve never lost,” Ms. Simmons said. After graduation from Harvard, Ms. Simmons did not return to RCS to teach, choosing instead to explore the retail industry. She started her career in the Bloomingdale’s buying organization first as an assistant buyer in Women’s Ready-to-Wear and then as a senior assistant buyer in Home. “After three years, I felt that my lack of business and financial confidence was holding me back,” Ms. Simmons noted. “So I applied and enrolled as a full-time MBA student at NYU’s Stern School of Business.” While she was a full-time student at Stern, Ms. Simmons interned with designer Rosie Assoulin.

As a student at Rippowam Cisqua School, Taylor Simmons never thought she would launch or run her own business, and she never imagined working in the fashion industry. “Other than my Rippowam uniform, I only wore sports clothes,” Ms. Simmons jokes. But today, inspired by her grandmother’s favorite silhouettes, her father’s love of colorful prints, and her mother’s love of timeless vintage, Ms. Simmons is the CEO of Coco Shop, an iconic 70-year-old clothing brand from the Caribbean island of Antigua. Here is her story. Ms. Simmons spent 10 years at Rippowam Cisqua School and went on to the Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts and Harvard College.

“I absolutely loved my time at RCS so much that I left having told the Head of School, Mrs. Lambert, that

“I loved the small company, all-in-oneroom atmosphere,” Ms. Simmons said. In May 2017, while Ms. Simmons

was getting ready to graduate from business school and deciding what in retail she wanted to pursue, Coco Shop, a brand that Ms. Simmons had grown up with, announced it was officially closing all operations. Coco Shop was founded in Antigua in the Caribbean in 1949 by an American brother and sister team. They sewed and sold printed, cotton clothing from two stores on the island and built a beloved business. “My paternal grandparents were friends of the founders, so my father and then my brother and I grew up with the original brand,” Ms. Simmons noted.

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Alumni Spotlight

RIPPOW CISQUA SCHOOL LU

Madeleine Henry ’07 Coco Shop made men’s, women’s and children’s clothing as well as home goods. It was loved for its whimsical, island prints in bright colors.

on social media. I’m very grateful to the school for the support I still feel.”

“I reached out to the owners and asked if they had any interest in someone relaunching the company and they were thrilled by the idea of someone carrying on what their parents had built.” After spending a year and a half putting the pieces back together, Coco Shop officially relaunched in April 2019 with coverage in Vogue, Town & Country, and several industry publications. “In this relaunch, I’ve had tremendous support from those who knew the original company and I have benefitted hugely from the original company’s strong point of view,” Ms. Simmons said. “I’ve made everything in a soft, washable cotton, as they did, and all prints were hand-drawn by one of the founders in the 1950s and 1960s.” Production is currently in New York’s Garment District, but according to Ms. Simmons, they recently started sewing again in one Antiguan town and the goal is to roll the island sewing and embroidery out to as many towns as possible in an effort to support the local artisans in Antigua. Today, Coco Shop apparel is available through its beautiful new website www.cocoshopwi.com and Ms. Simmons is busy growing the business though e-commerce, retail industry, and trunk shows. But Rippowam Cisqua School is never far from her heart. “Some of my closest friends in the world are still my friends from RCS,” said Ms. Simmons. “I think we all feel like sisters at this point – friends that became family. There is nothing like best friends who have known you your entire life. I am so lucky.”

Author Madeleine Henry has always been interested in writing. After graduating from RCS, she was the editor-in-chief of The Exonian at Phillips Exeter Academy and she wrote comedy for The Yale Record, America’s oldest college humor magazine. After her graduation from Yale in 2014, Ms. Henry began work as an analyst at Goldman Sachs. She spent four years working in finance in New York City before choosing to focus full time on writing. On July 9, 2019, her debut novel, Breathe In, Cash Out, was released by Simon & Schuster. Ms. Henry has plans for a second book to be published in 2021. While she describes Breath In, Cash Out as “pretty sassy, bold, and explicit,” the author characterizes the book she is currently writing, with the working title The Love Proof, as more “poetic, and visceral.” When she is not busy writing, Ms. Henry spends her time practicing yoga. She shares her practice with over 34,000 followers on @MadeleineHenryYoga. “Rippowam provided an invaluable community of friends and teachers who continue to help me in my career and beyond. My classmates and teachers from Ripp still support me at my book events, other milestones, and

RCS: What do you remember most about your experience at RCS? MH: I always had teachers who really cared and invested in my learning, constantly pushing me to excel. Ridley Sperling, my advisor, always believed in me. I have fond memories of writing my Portfolio thesis paper and appreciated that it was very open ended as to what could be submitted. Ripp is an incredible school, where people really care. RCS: Who are your favorite authors? MH: I admire Donna Tartt for her work in The Goldfinch. I was really impressed with how specific her prose was in this book. I enjoy Jodi Picoult for the issues she takes on in her writing. And I like Blake Crouch for all the plots in his novels, specifically Dark Matter and Recursion. RCS: Where and when are you inspired to write? MH: I write from home and do my best to keep traditional office hours. I try to live by Stephen King’s piece of advice, “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” To me, that means being consistent and staying with it. RCS: Do you have any advice for writers who want to publish a novel? MH: It takes a lot longer than you think it will to get it out the door. You should have expectations for a long process. There are various rounds of revisions with agents and editors. Be prepared for a long ride. Once you choose a relevant topic, just go for it!

The RCS Alumni Association Board 2020-21 Harry Grand ’93, Chair Dan Ryan ’93, Vice Chair Richard Cahill ’92, Treasurer Dana Johnston Brooks ’89 Ellen Sluder Cohen ’92 Storrs Lamb Coté ’79 Cecily Fowler Grand ’65 Jenny Heath ’91 Gus Levy ’98 Forrest Mas ’04 Sydney Mas ’07 Zoe Haydock McKnight ’98 Bill Meyer ’84 Vanessa Seide ’93 Annie Stickney ’96 Marilen Grosjean Tilt ’57 Alexandria van Starrenburg ’07 Christopher Wirth ’94

AlumniConnections Fall Back to Ripp We welcomed over sixty alumni from the classes of 2015-20 back to campus on November 26, 2019, for the annual Fall Back to Ripp reunion before Thanksgiving. Math teacher and seventh grade Dean Paul Ragonesi said, “The electricity in the air that night was tangible as our young alumni came back to reconnect with old friends and classmates, to see the changes that have been made on campus, and connect with former teachers. We love hearing from former students to see how life has unfolded for them after their time at Ripp.” We launched Fall Back to Ripp in 2015 and it immediately became a favorite tradition and the highlight of our alumni calendar. “Every year we have more alumni coming back, and I always look forward to catching up with them,” Head of School Colm MacMahon said. Calling all RCS alumni! We are building our LinkedIn network and have recently relaunched the Rippowam Cisqua School page. Please help us grow by adding Rippowam Cisqua School to your education and joining the Rippowam Cisqua School Alumni Group. If you already have RCS listed under your education, please delete it and add it back so that the new page can properly include you in our alumni network. We are excited to connect with you! Stay tuned for networking opportunities!

STAY CONNECTED

It has never been easier to stay in touch with fellow alumni. Connect, communicate, catch up, and celebrate with your classmates from RCS.

And if you haven’t stopped by the RCS alumni page on the website in awhile, go to www.rcsny.org/alumni to see the events we have coming up and what other alumni are doing!

F acebook: Rippowam Cisqua School

I nstagram: rippowam_cisqua

LinkedIn: Cisqua School Rippowam

Twitter: @rippowam_cisqua

Visit our website for the latest news from campus:

www.rcsny.org

(Left to right) Chase Mockridge ’18, ninth grade teacher Jordan Schnell (kneeling), Doug Yaffa ’18, Brandon Peterson ’18, Jon Shea ’18, Timothy Evnin ’18, Josh Boies ’20, Walton Burdick ’20, and fifth grade teacher Brooks Eleck

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(Left to right) Gayle Miranda ’20, Sophie Greve ’20, Kate Harvey ’20, and Camille Smith ’20

(Left to right) Grant Amerling ’15, math teacher Paul Ragonesi, and Homer Gere ’15

Alumni Class Notes

RCS alumnae together in the Adirondacks

President of the Board of Governors of the Westminster Kennel Club Chat Reynders ’81

(Left to right) Former Board Chair P. Benjamin “Bing” Grosscup III, Board Chair Peter B. Freund ’91, and former Trustee Roger B. Vincent Sr. ’59

1962

1988

1992

Old friends and RCS alumnae spent time together at the Ausable Club in the Adirondacks over the summer of 2019. Classmates included (left to right in the photo above) Laura Lee Eifert Montross ’73; Cynthia Branch Mas ’71; Linda Bishop Moody ’70 and her husband, Michael; Missy Bowers Renwick ’70; Anita de Bragança Stockbridge ’62; and Anne Keesee Niemann ’71.

Roger B. Vincent Jr. and his wife, Melissa, welcomed their second daughter, Beatrice Mandeville Vincent, on October 3, 2019. She joins big sister Effie.

Actress Andrus Nichols is at it again. After co-founding Bedlam, one of the most recognizable American theater companies in recent years, she has gone on to co-found off-Broadway company the Coop, and has taken on the role of artistic director. The troupe’s inaugural production, Barbara Hammond’s world-premiere play Terra Firma, opened at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City in November 2019, with Ms. Nichols playing The Queen.

1981 Charlton “Chat” Reynders III rang the closing bell at the NASDAQ Composite on February 7 to kick off the festivities surrounding the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Since May 2018, Chat has served as President of the Board of Governors of the Westminster Kennel Club. 52

Baby Beatrice Vincent, daughter of Roger Vincent Jr. ’88 and his wife, Melissa

1991 Former Board Chair Bing Grosscup, Board Chair Peter Freund ’91, and Roger Vincent Sr. ’59 were among the current and past trustees gathered for a cocktail event on January 27 at GlenArbor Golf Club in Bedford Hills. It was a wonderful opportunity for Head of School Colm MacMahon to thank former trustees for their service and share his vision for the future of Rippowam Cisqua School.

In October 2019, Peter Pell ’92 and Peter Hallock ’92 broke a 10-year drought by winning the Red Tee Challenge golf tournament at the Myopia Hunt Club. Franklin Foster ’91, Sam Polk ’91, and Jeremy Randol ’92 also competed in the nineteenth playing of the prestigious tournament. Friends since Kindergarten Andrew Morris, Rob Shuhy, Allie Feldman Black, and G.J. Wetzler met up at a Washington, D.C. gathering in February.

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Ripp alumni at the Red Tee Challenge golf tournament

(Left to right) Andrew Morris ’92, Rob Shuhy ’92, Allie Feldman Black ’92, and G.J. Wetzler ’92

Yoga Retreat at Seesaw’s Lodge in Vermont with Katama Eastman ‘92 and Georgia Reath ‘94

Jermaine Moure ’96 on a recent visit to RCS with his daughter, Victoria, and Chris Perry

1994 Katama (Guernsey) Eastman and her family, with some local partners, spent the last couple of years reviving and reimagining Johnny Seesaw’s in Peru, Vermont, one of the first ski lodges in the U.S. It has been open for just over a year to rave reviews. Seesaw’s has a traditional Vermont feel with all the modern creature comforts and Katama was involved in all aspects of bringing it back to life in terms of look, feel, decorating, branding, social media, and the relaunch of the property as “Seesaw’s Lodge.” Beyond the cabins and lodges that have been completely redone, and the restaurant with its signature open fireplace dating back to the late 1930s, there is chatter that the next phase will be when they open a distillery where they plan to create spirits from local inputs like rye, maple syrup, and apples.

Georgia Reath recently opened Blue Light yoga studio in Hamilton, Massachusetts, where she teaches yoga and offers counseling in private and group settings.

1996 Jermaine Moure visited RCS in fall 2019 with his daughter Victoria in tow. Jermaine now has three daughters, Victoria, Olivia, and a new baby, Ava. Jermaine is an architect at Bemoure & Duffy and lives with his three children and wife, Cindy, in New Windsor, New York.

1998 Josh Deitch was named Head of Middle School at the King School in Stamford, Connecticut, this past year.

After serving as the Upper School Division Head (Grades 5-8) at The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine, a private K-8 school in New York City, Deitch said, “I have always focused heavily on the student experience, and the ways that strong relationships set the stage for dynamic learning preparing students for today’s complex and ever-changing world.”

1999 Malcom MacDonald and his wife, Amy, welcomed their second son, Brooks Cameron MacDonald, on November 19, 2019. Big brother Malcolm “Cole,” age 2, was so happy to meet him. They live on the Upper West Side in New York City. Roddy Tilt and his wife, Christina, welcomed their first baby, Caroline Meyer Tilt. She was born on July 31, 2019

Alumni Class Notes

King’s New Head of Middle School, Josh Deitch ‘98

Cole and new brother Brooks, sons of Malcom MacDonald ’99 and wife Amy MacDonald

Alex Pall ’00 of the Chainsmokers recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30

Baby Bo Mas, son of Forrest Mas ‘04 and Mackenzie Mas

Luke Celenza ’07 releases “Emanuela,” a contemporary jazz album.

2000 Alex Pall recently received Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition for Top Young Entrepreneurs in 2020, which celebrates the creative and bold minds leading us into this decade. Mr. Pall said, “I miss Rippowam Cisqua School so much. It made me who I am. And I hope one day when I have kids, they can be Blue Team as well. Go Blue!”

2004 Mac Beitzel and his wife, Mary, moved to Katonah, New York, in the spring of 2020 from Stamford, Connecticut.

2007

Pianist Luke Celenza, brother to chef Forrest Mas and his wife, Mackenzie, Frankie Celenza ’02, released his new welcomed their first child, Bowdoin “Bo” album “Emanuela” in 2019. He wrote: Lawrence Mas, on December 2, 2019. “These are all original compositions of mine! We recorded the album in Elsie Swank is engaged! June 2018 over a weekend in Bedford, Congratulations to Elsie and at home. It features myself on piano, Cryder Bancroft. my former classmate from Juilliard, Dan Chmielinski on bass, and one of my oldest and best friends in the world, Francesco Ciniglio, on drums. I’m excited for this project this time around because I’m also doing all the Squash pro Chris Hanson, ranked #67 engineering. I assisted in the recording in the world and #2 in America, has process, I mixed, and I also mastered it.”

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partnered with fellow RCS alumnus Jordan Kemp to launch RIA Eyewear, a high-quality protective eyewear company. The long-time friends teamed up, Chris said, “Because we believe that safety and high performance can coexist when it comes to eye protection for squash and other racquet sports.” Chris and Jordan are collaborating with lens-maker ZEISS in Italy on their new endeavor, and plan to launch the squash line in late 2020.

Sydney Mas started a new job at WeWork in October 2019 in New York City, New York. Paul Mazurek was married in September 2018 to Danielle Forras at the Inn at Pound Ridge in Pound Ridge, New York. In 2019, he moved back to New York City from Dallas to join Stellex Capital, a private equity firm focused on investing in distressed companies.

2009 Sammi Cannold directed Endlings this February-March at the New York Theater Workshop, a new play by Celine Song that premiered at the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) last year. In November 2019, Ms. Cannold directed Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s new production of Evita at the New York City Center, which the New York Times described as “An Evita Newly Tailored for Our Time.”

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Where in the World? The Class of 2014

Many of our 2014 graduates are college juniors now, who spent part of their junior year abroad. Here’s where their passports took them... exploring and learning in 2019-20.

“I heard about the ‘Where in the World’ piece and thought I’d share this picture – I coincidentally ran into Adam Mann while in Munich for Oktoberfest.” – Lily Fauver

Phipps Lawrence and Henry Mockridge at Oktoberfest

Adam Mann Bates College Fall Semester in Amsterdam Lily Fauver Dartmouth College Fall Semester in Dublin, Ireland Phipps Lawrence University of Denver Fall Semester in Berlin, Germany

Emma McCormick in Paris

Andrew Lowman Bates College Fall Semester in Prague, Czech Republic

Emma McCormick Northwestern University Fall Semester in Paris, France Jack Weeden Santa Clara University Fall Semester in Paris, France

Amelia Riegel University of Virginia Fall Semester in Florence, Italy Jack Weeden (front right) with friends in France

Sean Speegle Gettysburg College Spring Semester in Athens, Greece Henry Mockridge Trinity College Fall Semester in Athens, Greece

Kyla Spence Bucknell University Spring Semester in Rome, Italy

Luisa Stalman Duke University Fall Semester in Madrid, Spain Sophia Gutfreund Tufts University Spring Semester in Madrid, Spain Kendall Burdick Lehigh University Spring Semester in Madrid, Spain

Hannah Burdick Bucknell University Spring Semester in Sydney, Australia States Langham Colgate University Spring Semester in Sydney, Australia Charlotte Grunebaum University of Denver Fall Semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Henry Mockridge in Greece 55

Alumni Class Notes

Paul Mazurek ’07 and his wife, Danielle, on their wedding day

Matt Lacey ’15 at Peekskill’s Juneteenth Festival

Maggie Coyle ’19 and Kate Harvey ’19

RCS teacher (and superfan) Paul Ragonesi with alumni Walton Burdick ‘20 and Josh Boise ‘20

2015

2018

2019

Matt Lacey performed in the ninth Annual Peekskill Juneteenth Parade and Festival on June 15, 2019, as one of the bands to highlight the event. The celebration’s focus was “Acknowledging 400 years of African American History,” with an afternoon and evening of food vendors, craft vendors, and entertainment on the Peekskill Showmobile Stage.

Class Reps Timothy Evnin – timothyevnin@gmail.com Nseya Hodge – nseya523@gmail.com Bennett Braden – bennett.braden18@gmail.com

Class Reps Lili Azima – liliazima@yahoo.com Hale Brown – halehailandbrown@gmail.com Ella Miller – ellamiller2004@yahoo.com Gayle Miranda – gayledemiranda@gmail.com

2016 Class Reps Blaire Clayton – bclayton19@nmhschool.org Paige Gilbert – paige_gilbert@stgeorges.edu Jack Kovensky – kovensky.jack@gmail.com

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Nseya Hodge ’18 in action at Emma Willard School

Class Reps Grace Greenwald – greenwald.grace@gmail.com Katje Knoblauch – katje_knoblauch@missporters.org

Taylor Clayton is a junior at Hotchkiss, where he is co-captain of the varsity squash team and a top-ranked player. Class of 2018 rep Nseya Hodge has been voted Squad Leader for the Emma Willard varsity track throwing squad. This year, she is also a Wellness Advocate or “Wellie.” Wellies are student leaders who serve the entire Emma community to promote the practice of empowering students to live a healthy life.

Tell Us What’s New with You! To submit Class Notes: Send text and high res images to Karin Smith at ksmith@rcsny.org. For short milestone information (engagements, weddings, births), please include full name and dates.

Class of 2019 rep Hale Brown, a freshman at Lawrenceville School, plays football and lacrosse. “For my co-curriculars,” he wrote, “ I am on the Board and am the Head of Marketing and Outreach for L10, our on campus media outlet. There I am working on producing engaging and meaningful content for our brand and broadening our range of influence to more than just Lawrenceville.”

2020 RCS math teacher Paul Ragonesi took a road trip to Suffield Academy to cheer on football players Walton Burdick and Josh Boise. “The game was fun!” Mr. Ragonesi said.

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In Memoriam

We offer our condolences to the family and friends of the following members of our school community. Robert A. Brunelle, grandfather of Margot Clough ’20 and Hope Fooshee ’24, passed away on December 29, 2019. He was 80 years old. Known as Bob or Bizz, Mr. Brunelle was born on March 15, 1939, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He graduated from Auburn High School and attended Nichols College. Mr. Brunelle had a long and successful career in the steel industry, which began with his positions at Bethlehem Steel and Chesapeake Finished Metals. He went on to build his own company, The Robert A. Brunelle Steel Company, Inc. He is survived by his beloved wife Mary, four children, and eight grandchildren.

Four-time Tony Award-winning actress Zoe Caldwell, the mother of Sam Whitehead ‘84 and Charlie Whitehead ‘87, passed away on February 16, 2020. She was 86 years old.

RCS alumnus Foxhall “Foxy” Parker ’40 passed away on December 28, 2019, at the age of 94. He is survived by his wife Helen to whom he was happily married for 67 years and by his daughters Patricia Meuller ’75 and Mary Morgan Parker ’77. Mr. Parker grew up in Katonah, New York, on the property that is now the Bedford Audubon Society’s Bylane Farm. After Rippowam, Mr. Parker went on to graduate from St. George’s School (Class of 1943), Dartmouth College (Class of 1948), and Thayer School of Engineering (Class of 1949). Airplanes and flying were a passion for Mr. Parker. He entered the Navy to become a pilot immediately upon his graduation from high school, as World War II was coming to a close. He was a member of the V-12 and flew with the VS-835. Mr. Parker worked at Grumman Aircraft following his service, while staying active with the Navy Reserves.

Paul F. Beatty, grandfather of Paul Wichmann ’22 and Elise Wichmann ’25, died suddenly on January 5, 2020. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Mr. Beatty attended Roxbury Latin School, and, upon graduation, was awarded an NROTC scholarship to Harvard College. He spent three years aboard a destroyer on active duty as a naval officer. Mr. Beatty held a Doctor of Pharmacy from Northeastern University and a law degree from Boston College, and practiced law for nearly 30 years with the firm Sullivan and Worcester.

Judy Cusati, mother of Lower School music teacher and RCS alumnus Ed Cusati ’94, passed away on December 11, 2019. She was 78 years old. Her memorial service was held in Katonah, New York. At the service, Ed sang “Stardust,” an original composition that he dedicated to his mother. Catherine Shelbred, mother of Lizzie Shelbred ’15 and Perry Shelbred ’15, passed away in August 2019. Sally Pryor, mother of Kathy Pryor Burgeson ’71, Dan Pryor ’76, Joe Pryor ’79, and Ted Pryor ’84, passed away in June 2019. Ann and Charles McDuffie, parents of Sunshine Lee McDuffie Tartter ’71, Carrington McDuffie ’73, and Katharine McDuffie Etchells ’75, died in 2018 and 2012, respectively. Both were actively involved in the Bedford and Katonah communities over their 60 years together. They are laid to rest at St. Matthew’s Church in Bedford.

Charles Urstadt, grandfather of Ellie Biddle ‘09 and Dana Biddle ‘11, died peacefully at his home in Bronxville, New York, on March 3, 2020. Born in Manhattan in 1928, Mr. Urstadt graduated from Bronx High School of Science, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, and Cornell University Law School. He served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy, aboard the carrier U.S.S. Bennington.

Robert M. Crowell, M.D., grandfather of Belle Crowell ’21 and Wilson Crowell ’23, died on March 24, 2020, after a long and dignified battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Crowell grew up in College Park, Maryland, received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University, and graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1966. After completing his residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Dr. Crowell had a prolific 32-year career as a neurosurgeon, teacher, researcher, and author. He held academic appointments and directed neurosurgical training and stroke programs at Harvard Medical School, Barrow Neurological Institute, University of Illinois (Chicago), University of Massachusetts School of Medicine, and Berkshire Medical Center. He also authored, co-authored, or edited over 160 neurosurgery publications. Stanley “Sandy” Rand III, grandfather of Will O’Callaghan ’19, Jack O’Callaghan ’20, and Maggie O’Callaghan ’22, passed away peacefully at home in Darien, Connecticut, surrounded by his devoted family on March 26, 2020. He was 75 years old. Mr. Rand attended Brunswick School, Trinity Pawling School, and Stetson University before serving in Vietnam as a Green Beret with the 5th Special Forces Group. Mr. Rand recently retired as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rand Insurance, Inc., a Riverside and New Canaan general insurance agency. He and his wife, Suzanne, lived in Riverside, Connecticut, where they raised their family and built their family business. 57

Everyone benefits when our community comes together.

OPERATING/ANNUAL SUPPORT

LONG-TERM INVESTMENT

Annual Fund

Together 2020 Campaign

Goal

$650,000

$4 Million

Time frame

A yearly effort from July 1, through June 30

A sustained effort from January 1 through December 31, 2020

Purpose

The Annual Fund makes up “the 15% Gap” between the annual tuition and the actual cost of an RCS education.

The Together 2020 Campaign provides long-term financial stability by investing in facility and program enhancements that empower students.

Impact

Successfully meeting “the Gap” has an immediate and direct impact on the exceptional experiences that are indicative of an RCS education.

The community-wide effort to unite our campuses and maximize opportunities for JPK-Grade 9 students supports our strategic and master plan goals.

Pledges

Annual Fund pledges and gifts are payable within one fiscal year.

Campaign pledges are payable over three to five years.

Why give

Invest in today.

Invest in today and tomorrow.

Give a hoot

Make a quick and easy gift at www.rcsny.org/annualfund.

Make a quick and easy gift at www.rcsny.org/campaign.

No gift is too small. Every dollar makes a difference.

To discuss your gift, contact Director of Development Daphne Viders at (914) 244-1293 or viders@rcsny.org. 58

$650K

Annual Fund

$585K

We are all in this together. Thank you to the many families who volunteer their time and talent to give endless opportunities to every child at RCS. We couldn’t do this without you.

Annual Fund Committee 2019-20

Campaign Committee 2019-20

Kelly Coles, Annual Fund Co-Chair Sara Slocum, Annual Fund Co-Chair Catherine Courter Patreece Creegan Claudia Neary Magda Pauley Michael Pontillo Jennifer Sicard Elizabeth Wichmann

Abby Gerry, Chair Peter Freund ‘91, Board Chair Kirtley Cameron Jonathan Childs Nancy Dwyer Eaves ‘92 Harry Grand ‘93 Benjamin Harris Shirar Mugler Chris Pachios

$4 MILLION

$1.65

MILLION

Together 2020 Campaign

For 102 years, students, parents, alumni, and friends have given back to RCS. We are fortunate to have an active and engaged community who believe in our mission and partner with us each day to create a sustainable future. Your gift makes everything possible. Thank you for your continued support.

RIPPOWAM CISQUA SCHOOL 439 Cantitoe Street, Bedford, NY 10506 www.rcsny.org